Bofur, securing his supplies onto the pony, eyed his sister with a soft smile before going to her and hugging her gently.

"Ye sure ye'll be alright?" He asked, breaking the embrace; his hand gracing across her swollen belly. "Yer not long from having the baby and I'd be distressed if~"

"Nori will be here," Nola explained, "and he's just as unbearable as you are. I'll be fine."

Bofur chuckled and patted Nola's belly once more; "Ye were tossing and turning all night…Oin's readin' of the runes really scared ye, didn't it?"

Nola sniffed and shrugged. "He's yet to be wrong on anything when he reads," She countered, then her face grew dark and she clasped her hands across her stomach; without meeting Bofur's concerned gaze as she said.

"Ye shouldn't think about tha' little bit. I know he told ye it showed that…well, ye've carried the baby just fine so far and have a little over a month left. Oh! That reminds me, be sure to check in on Sela. Bombur's goin' mad with her mood swings and all."

Nola chuckled; "Our family is certainly populating Ered Luin rather successfully these days!"

Bofur snickered as he mounted his pony and gave a friendly nod of his head toward his sister; "I'll be back in three weeks, if anythin' happens, ye know where to send word, aye?"

Nola nodded and Bofur, satisfied, kicked his heels and the pony lurched to a slow trot.

She watched her brother go until he rounded the corner, no doubt heading over to what used to be Staric's grand manor to meet up with Bul who was to journey to the Iron Hills to retrieve Thorin's bride.

In the months that had passed, Thorin had come to trust Bul with the most important tasks. Even if, Nola thought resentfully, certain tasks offended his blood kin.

With a sigh, Nola turned her head to the side and said: "You might as well come out. He's gone now."

Thorin Oakenshield came around the corner and offered Nola a soft, embarrassed smile as he approached.

"You've gotten rather good at that, detecting when someone is about," He offered, "But forgive me for hiding nonetheless. I just didn't want to risk another verbal spar with your brother."

Nola smirked and noticed Thorin observe her from head to toe; knowing then what it was and why he'd come to visit her.

"Did you get the chest," He asked, as Nola invited him into her home. "I know it isn't much but~"

"It's more than enough," Nola said softly as they traveled to the den and took their seats, "Because of you this child will live like a monarch," Nola explained, "as I'm sure that is your desire.

Thorin, crossing his legs as he sat, eyed Nola with tender concern; "What was that about Oin and his portents?"

Nola sighed, ran a hand absently over her abdomen, and said: "He…he foresaw a dangerous account. One that was…Oh, it just warned of danger in the baby's life."

Seeing Thorin's eyes go wide, Nola was quick to point out: "The baby has been moving and kicking wildly since then. Even Oin says all is well at this point."

"Would you allow my physician to examine you?" Thorin asked, "If only to ease me? My concerns I mean."

Nola eyed Thorin for a moment, but then slowly nodded. "Very well," she agreed, "Oh…Bul told me you're hoping for a girl?"

Thorin smiled softly and ran his hand over his short beard, before giving a quick nod. "I've two nephews after all," He explained, "and our females are few."

"That would be pleasant," Nola admitted, "If she has your bearing she'll be quite beautiful as I've often heard others speculate that you, your self, would have made a beautiful girl.

Thorin grinned and chuckled; "Balin started that debate," He confessed, "He's insistent that any children I~" and Thorin choked on his own words and cleared his throat.

"It's alright," Nola offered softly, "Thorin…she's to be your wife. An heir is to be~"

"I already have an heir," Thorin interrupted softly but firmly, "Regardless of what others might think. I only want one heir…and only from one woman."

Not wanting to pursue the argument she'd been having so often with Thorin, as of late, Nola rose and announced: "I have errands."

Thorin rose slowly and spat: "Where's Nori? You shouldn't over exerting yourself. I could send a servant~"

"That will not be necessary," Nola said, pushing a strand of her hair from her face, "I only mean to visit the bakery."

Thorin silently conceded but, just as Nola began to show him out, he stopped suddenly and turned.

Before she could react, Thorin took her into his arms and kissed her firmly.

Nola let out a whimper and pulled away from him; her fingers tracing over her lips, she felt the sting of tears at her eyes as she said:

"Much as I ache, I made my choice and so did you. You've done very well so far to prove your devotion to the child but as for my welfare…you've no need to concern yourself. Not any more."

Thorin sighed and turned to go. But not before declaring in almost a whisper: "I will never stop caring…and neither will you."

Hearing the door close, Nola let out a whimper and, as she covered her mouth, remembering the joy of Thorin's kiss, began to weep softly.

"She's a bit odd, from what I gathered, I only met her a time or two; Very demure, polite, just your average aristocrat."

Bofur smiled as he rode side by side with Sol.

After that fateful night, so many months ago, the two had struck up a friendship that had grown, Bofur admitted, very strong and very quickly.

"Aye, but Whaddya mean odd?" Bofur inquired, adjust himself on the saddle, "Do ye mean odd in a bad way?"

Sol chuckled and shook his head. "No," He replied, "I mean…well, she just seemed odd; but definitely not at all in a bad way. You know that feeling you get when you meet someone and…well, she's just odd to me. But not in a bad way at all."

"Ah," Bofur mused, "So she's odd in the same way as, say, a certain male dwarf who uses women's face cream for his own purpose?"

"Here!" Bul spat, and shot a glaring eye at Bofur as he rode ahead in front of them, "Try it some time, takes ages off of ye. Now will the two of ye please stop with yer mindless chatter?"

Both dwarves offered each other goofy smiles and rode in silence for some time until Bofur decided to ask: "are ye lookin' forward to seeing anyone while yer back in the Iron Hills?"

Sol shook his head, and gave Bofur a soft smile; "Would that bother you Master Toymaker?"

Bofur startled slightly, unsure of what Sol meant, but he nonetheless shook his head and tried to hide his sudden nervousness.

"May I ask why you've come?" Sol inquired, "I mean, you're not going to be playing for Dain the night of the banquet nor have you ever told me that you deliver toys to neighboring kingdoms."

Bofur shrugged and eyed Bul's back before answering softly: "One last favor."